| Parkeljc2. 06. 2016 23:36:02 |
1. On Olympos, 967m, which is the second highest peak of Lesbos island (the highest is Lepetymnos 968m), we drive from the main town Mithilini on an extremely wide road towards Kalloni. After approx. 25 km we turn left and follow the road another 12km to Agiasos, where we park.
2. From Kalloni we drive on an extremely wide road towards the main town Mitilini. After approx. 27km at the intersection we turn right and follow the road another 12km to Agiasos, where we park.
Olympos shows itself in all its beauty a few kilometers from the town. Actually, you can't miss it, as we spot it very soon after leaving the capital. Lesbos is known for its water abundance; they also call it the "green island". That's why Olympos can't be missed, as its shape literally stands out both in form and height. The summit part prominently protrudes from all that greenery; mainly olive groves surround it in the lower part, a bit higher low vegetation and individual trees. The last approx. 100m are bare.
The path starts about 70m behind the gas station, opposite some sacral monument with a statue of Mary, at 475 m. We turn right into a narrow passage towards Olympos, which is nicely visible from the start. Right before entering the narrow passage there is also a well-visible direction sign. Further on, we first logically follow the path, then numerous nicely carved wooden signposts lead us to the top: small red arrows, cat's eyes nailed to trees, plaques with hiker motifs, and finally just small red dots on rocks, mainly smaller cat's eyes screwed to trees.
The path initially mostly follows a footpath, then a cart track and a very steep improved stone path; after approx. 20 minutes we reach a cart track where signs direct us right. After approx. 5 minutes another sign steeply left and after 20 minutes we reach a flat area, a cart track from Agiasos to the neighboring lower peak. Here the olive groves soon end. After 5 minutes walking on the cart track we turn into the forest again, where a wide well-visible path takes us through sparse forest to the asphalt road, which we cross and again through sparse forest after a few minutes we tackle the final steep slope with our knees. Here the forest ends. The path ascends to the summit in switchbacks on a nicely stoned path, which we logically follow to the top for another approx. 15 minutes. Just below the summit there is a larger building serving the maintainers of the transmitters. There are four transmitters on the summit. Next to this building there is also a small church on the summit, which can be viewed from inside, and similarly near the church there is some viewpoint tower, from which there is a nice view of most of the island and nearby Turkey, as well as neighboring islands.
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